Microturbine Co-Generation

On October 11, 2011 the City of York Wastewater Treatment Plant retired its 23-year old co-generation facility which was powered by internal combustion engines. Since the start-up of this facility in 1988 more than 57 million kilowatt hours have been generated.

In its place eight 200 kW Capstone® microturbines were brought online. Three microturbines will use methane gas produced by our anaerobic digesters to generate electricity. Heat will also be recovered from their exhaust gas to warm the digesters year-round and heat buildings during cooler months. The other five units will use utility gas as fuel to produce additional electricity based on the facility’s demand.

The Capstone® microturbines are much more energy efficient, producing the 30 percent more electricity than the older system. In addition this new technology produces far less air pollution.